HL Deb 19 July 1934 vol 93 cc868-70
LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE

My Lords, I should like to ask the Leader of the House if he can tell us about the business for next week and at the same time to ask him, with apologies, whether he has been able to provide time for the Motion I desire to put down for Monday next. The reason for such short notice is that I understand the Notice Paper is filled up for the whole course of next week, and as this is a matter of very great gravity, consequent on the declaration made by the noble Marquess, the Secretary of State for Air, to-day, I have felt obliged, with the approval of my noble friends who act with me, to put down this Motion at this short notice.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

My Lords, I appreciate the urgency which necessitated the Motion going down at short notice, and I only hope that everybody will this time at any rate have time to read the Notice that the Motion is coming on before it is actually discussed. I think the best plan would be that we should meet on Monday at three o'clock instead of at 4.15. There has to be taken a certain amount of Government business. There is the Committee stage of the Poor Law (Scotland) Bill, the Second Reading of the Colonial Stock Bill, the Isle of Man (Customs) Bill, and the Public Works Loans Bill. These four are almost formal. Then there is the consideration of the Commons Amendments to the Shops Bill. After that, which ought not to take long, we shall have the rest of the sitting available for the discussion of the Vote of Censure of which Notice has just been given.

On Tuesday, we have the Sheriffdom of Perth and Angus Order, 1034, and the County Courts Bill, which is a Consolidation Bill and which my noble and learned friend on the Woolsack desires to take through all its stages in order that it may get to another place. Then there is the Report stage of the Road Traffic Bill and the Milk Bill, the Committee stage of the National Maritime Museum Bill and the Dindings Agreement (Approval) Bill, and the Third Reading of the British Sugar (Subsidy) Bill. I think the only substantial thing there would be the Report stage of the Road Traffic Bill.

On Wednesday there is the Third Reading of the National Maritime Museum Bill; and there will be perhaps the Third Reading of the Road Traffic Bill. I should like to get it on Wednesday, but it there are many alterations on Report then, probably, we shall have to take it on Thursday. I thought we would wait and see how much the Bill was modified on Report stage. Then there are a number of Questions in the names of the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, and of my noble friends Lord Danesfort, Lord Lamington, and the Duke of Montrose, and there are certain Church Measures which will, I think, fill up the rest of Wednesday. On Thursday we shall have further stages of the Bills I have already referred to and there will be the Second Reading of the Cattle Industry Bill which is coining from another place at the beginning of next week and which it will be necessary to pass through all its stages before the House adjourns.

If I may go on to the following week I think I can give all the business. On Monday, July 30, we propose to take the Committee stage of the Cattle Industry Bill, the Third Reading of the Colonial Stock Bill and of the Poor Law (Scotland) Bill, and the consideration of any Amendments from another place with regard to the various Bills which will have gone down there. On Tuesday, July 31, we propose to take all stages of the Appropriation Bill which, in this House, is little more than a formality, the Third Reading of the Cattle Industry Bill, and then, after a Royal Commission to give His Majesty's Assent to such measures as we have passed, I hope the House will be able to adjourn to some date which I hope then to be able to announce.

LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDE

My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Viscount for giving us the full programme for the next ten days, but there is one detail I should like to ask him. On Thursday next, owing to a certain function taking place, I do not know if the House will meet at a different time.

VISCOUNT HAILSHAM

If it would be for the general convenience there would be no judicial difficulty about meeting at three o'clock on that day. I do not think any of the business for Thursday, except the Cattle Industry Bill, will be of a contentious character. That may take a little tune, and it might well be convenient to meet at three o'clock. I will communicate through the usual channels and ascertain what are the general wishes of the House with regard to the time of meeting.